Berkeley, CA

Berkeley, CA Weather, Tides, Events, and Local Information

The city of Berkeley is located in Alameda County, CA​,​ on the ​east shore of San Francisco Bay. ​Berkeley​ is the home of the oldest ​University of California campus, UC Berkeley, as well as many parks and green spaces. ​T​he city promotes the environment ​and is​ emerging as a leader in the effort to re-tree urban areas.

Things to do in Berkeley, CA

While Berkeley is famously known for its UC Berkeley Campus, it’s not the only attraction Berkeley has to offer. In fact, Berkeley offers an abundance of activities people of all ages can enjoy.

Tilden Regional Park​:
Sited on 2,079 acres, Tilden Regional Park offers endless recreational activities. Stroll through one of the many trails by foot or bike, bring a snack and make a picnic on one of the grassy areas, ride one of the animals available on the carousel, or bring your suit and swim in Lake Anza.

Tilden Little Park​:
Tilden’s Little Park is an educational space where you can learn about different plants and animals. Adults and children alike can learn something at Tilden Little Park!

UC Botanical Garden​:
Open yearly, the Botanical Garden houses a large collection of California plants and animals including rare and endangered species.

Grizzly Peak​:
The Grizzly Peak summit is located within the Tilden Regional Park’s boundaries within the Berkeley Hills and directly behind the UC Berkeley Campus. Contrary to what its name suggests, Grizzly Peak is no longer a housing ground for California grizzly bears. Though it once was, the California grizzly hasn’t been seen along the peak since 1860.

Sather Tower​:
Located 307 feet above ground, the Sather Tower (aka: Campanile) is what comes to mind when many people think of Berkeley, CA, or UC Berkeley. With Sather Tower being the third-largest bell and clock tower in the world, viewing it from afar doesn’t do it justice. Instead, schedule a tour with your friends or family to see just how magnificent the views from above ground truly are.

Fairy Post Office​:
The concept behind the fairy post office is to create a world of imagination that allows children and adults an opportunity to interact with fairies and field mice. Nestled in a tree, the post office can only be found at the start of Curran Trail across from the Brook picnic area.

Berkeley Art Museum​:
If you love visual arts, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is where you need to be! It’s a huge attraction for those who love and understand its mission of inspiring the imagination through art and film.

Adventure Playground​:
For parents and children (7+ years old) who are interested in having a fun day outside exploring with creative paint, zip lining, building boats, forts, or even towers, this playground offers a way for children to learn valuable life skills like cooperation, listening, overcoming challenges, and self-confidence.

Tail of the Yak​:
This whimsical shop is a must-see staple in the Berkeley community. Its walls are filled with a variety of gift items, paper lanterns, chandeliers, jewelry, soaps, and many other small items you didn’t know you needed but must have.

East Bay Vivarium​:
If reptiles are your thing, then this Vivarium is for you! Explore the many aquariums housing reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and feeder animals. Come alone or schedule​ a group celebration or birthday party.

With the marina’s ability to house 925 boats in the harbor and an additional 20 guest berths, you’ll find it a great place to rest, relax, and recoup from everyday stresses or long travels.

For more information on transient patrons, contact or report to the harbormaster’s office on the south side of the harbor.

For yacht owners, the Berkeley Yacht Harbor is located on the north side of the long pier. Its entrance is protected by two detached breakwaters; the south and north.

The south breakwater is marked by lights on the ends and at the center while the north breakwater is marked by a light on the NE and SW ends. The north side of the entrance into the harbor is marked by a private light, and the south side by a private light and sound signal.

Berkeley Reef, awash, is 0.9 mile NW from the inner harbor entrance and is marked by a light.

Please note that the Berkeley Pier is currently closed for restoration.

Berkeley, the site of the University of California, adjoins Oakland and Emeryville to the north. The long pier extending into the bay is marked by a light; the 1.7-mile offshore section of the pier is in ruins, and the inshore 3,000-foot section is used for fishing. In clear weather the Campanile (bell tower) at the university shows prominently from the bay.

Berkeley Marina, on the north side of the long pier, is protected at the entrance by two detached breakwaters. The south breakwater is marked by lights on the ends and at the center. The north breakwater is marked by a light on the northeast and southwest ends. The north side of the entrance into the harbor is marked by a private light, and the south side by a private light and sound signal. Berkeley Reef, awash, is 0.9 mile northwest from the inner harbor entrance; it is marked by a light. The marina accommodates 1,100 boats including transient berths; electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, pumpout facility and ramp are available. All vessels entering the harbor must contact the harbormaster’s office on the south side of the harbor.

Two marinas are at Emeryville, about 1.5 miles south of Berkeley Marina, and can provide transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, water, pump-out facility and launch ramp.

Southampton Shoal Light (37°52’55″N., 122°24’01″W.), 32 feet above the water, is shown from a white cylindrical tower near the south end of the 1.6-mile-long shoal. A sound signal (bell) is at the light. A wreck covered 4 feet lies 0.6 mile to the northeast at 37°53’16″N., 122°23’18″W.

Vessels going from San Francisco Bay proper bound for Richmond usually use the 45-foot project channel through the shoal area northwest of Southampton Shoal Light

Red Rock, 3.2 miles north-northwest of Southampton Shoal Light, is 169 feet high and prominent in the south approach. Buoyed Castro Rocks, 0.6 mile east-northeast of Red Rock, are small and low.

Richmond Harbor, on the east shore of San Francisco Bay 1.5 miles north of Southampton Shoal Light, includes the port facilities to Point San Pablo. The harbor is served by two Class I railroads, and is an important oil refining center and oil shipping port.

Channels:

A Federal project provides for a depth of 45 feet in Southampton Shoal Channel and in the maneuvering area off Richmond Long Wharf, thence 38 feet in the channels leading to the port facilities at the Port of Richmond, to a point about 2,000 feet in Sante Fe Channel, thence 30 feet in the remainder of Sante Fe Channel and the turning basin. The channel is well marked by navigational aids.

Regulated Navigation Areas:

A security zone has been established around the Chevron Long Wharf. A restricted area extends 0.3 mile offshore at Point Molate, site of a Navy fuel depot 0.8 mile north of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Regulated navigation areas are in the entrance channel and between Point Richmond and Point Potrero.

Boat Repairs:

Repairs to fishing boats, recreational craft and other types of small vessels can be made at three marine repair yards on the Santa Fe Channel. A marine railway at one of the yards has a 20-ton hauling capacity and boat lifts to 88 tons are also available. There are five drydocks at Point Potrero, the largest having a length of 750 feet. Floating cranes here have maximum capacity of 350 tons.

Small Craft Facilities:

A marina and yacht club are in Richmond Marina Bay and a private yacht harbor is on the east side of Point Richmond. Available services include: transient berths, gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, water, ice, pump-out and a launching ramp.

Bridges:

The 21,343-foot Richmond-San Rafael Highway Bridge, 8.8 miles above the Golden Gate Bridge, is one of the longest fixed high level double deck bridges. The east 970–foot fixed channel span clearance is 135 feet; the west fixed span has a 1,000–foot opening with a clearance of 185 feet. The centerline of both channels through the bridge spans is marked by a racon. The bridge is well lit, and the channels leading to it are marked with navigational aids.

Invincible Rock, 1.3 miles north of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, is covered 7 feet. Whiting Rock, covered 13 feet, is 0.2 mile north-northeast of Invincible Rock. Both rocks are buoyed. The buoy marking Whiting Rock is reported to submerge during strong ebb currents caused by the heavy spring runoffs in the area. Large vessels changing course and other craft in this area are advised to use caution.

The Brothers, 1.7 miles north of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, are two small low flat-topped islands. East Brother Light (37°57’48″N., 122°26’01″W.), 61 feet above the water, is shown from a buff square tower on the east island; a seasonal sound signal is at the station.

Point San Pablo, 0.3 mile northeast of East Brother Island Light, is the northwest extremity of a low ridge of hills on the east shore of San Francisco Bay at its junction with San Pablo Bay. The point rises abruptly to a height of 140 feet. A dredged channel off the northeast shore of the point is used to access the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor, and is reported to have significant shoaling.

A small-boat basin used by commercial and sport fishermen is 0.5 mile southeast from Point San Pablo.

A private yacht basin is 1 mile southeast from Point San Pablo. A channel leading to the basin has reported depths of about 2 feet.

Point Cavallo, on the west side of San Francisco Bay 0.5 mile northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge, is sharp and rocky with some visible and covered rocks under its face. Horseshoe Bay is a shallow bight W of the point.